King Charles Was ‘Bored Out of His Mind’ at Rehearsals Until Prince Louis Showed Up
Prince Louis came to the rescue when King Charles grew bored during Coronation rehearsals, turning a dull day into a sweet grandfather-grandson moment.
King Charles might be the reigning monarch, but he’s still a doting grandpa who can’t help melting around his grandkids. During the 2023 Coronation rehearsals, the King was reportedly bored out of his mind after weeks of preparations. But things took a sweet turn when his youngest Wales grandchild, Prince Louis, dropped in and instantly lifted his spirits.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Dame Penny Mordaunt shared another sweet detail about the visit. Louis, who was only five at the time, was fascinated by the crown jewels used in the ceremony. The moment was so memorable that Mordaunt, who witnessed it firsthand, said it was one she would always treasure. As Lord President of the Privy Council, Mordaunt carried the ceremonial Sword of State during the Coronation.
She told The Telegraph that Charles was already fed up with rehearsals by the Thursday before the event. After two solid weeks of going over the ceremony, the King seemed to have had enough. “We were doing dress rehearsals on the Thursday before, and the King was bored out of his mind,” she recalled.
“And then he suddenly sprung to life because beside him was Prince Louis, who had come to visit. They stopped the rehearsal so that he could show Prince Louis all the Crown Jewels. That’s a memory that I shall treasure,” she added.
Mordaunt herself stood out at the Coronation, carrying the eight-pound Sword of State while wearing a teal dress and cape detailed with gold-leaf embroidery. She quickly became one of the most talked-about figures of the day, making history as the first woman to carry out the role.
Charles and Louis also shared a sweet moment during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The then-Prince of Wales was watching the Platinum Pageant from the royal box when his four-year-old grandson climbed onto his lap. Charles was seen rocking Louis gently to the music and pointing out parts of the parade as it passed by. The little prince had been entertaining everyone with his cheeky expressions throughout the event, but he also found time for a cuddle with his grandfather.
